Cypriots ready for Irish challenge
Demetrakopoulos, 43, has been elevated because national team coach Angelos Anastasiades, is serving a one-match touchline ban after being sent off against Montenegro in June.
Demetrakopolous managed some modest club teams in Greece before joining Anastasiades as No. 2 five years ago. The pair were awarded new contracts by the Cyprus Football Federation in 2007.
Anastasiades believes Ireland are in sight of World Cup qualification thanks to Giovanni Trapattoni’s talent for team transformation.
“We know that we’ll be taking on a team which has a very good coach,” Anastasiades admitted. “Trapattoni has a fantastic reputation and Ireland’s track record since he took over speaks for itself.
“We are up against a team which is very close to securing its target and so this game is crucial for them. We know this and that is why we will be ready.”
Anastasiades refused to be downbeat about the injury to first-choice goalkeeper Antonis Giorgallidis. “I have told everyone in the dressing rooms to forget the word ‘excuse’,” he insisted.
“It’s not just Giorgallidis who will be missing but also Michalis Konstantinou and Costantinos Makrides (suspended).
“But that’s football and that’s life and so we are obliged to make do with what we have to cover any weakness or players missing. We believe in being united as a team and that is our strength.”
Defender Andreas Konstantinou has emerged as a major injury doubt, according to Anastasiades, who also revealed fellow defender Marios Nicolaou is expected to be fit.
Captain Ioannis Okkas recalled Cyprus’ 1-1 draw at Croke Park in 2007, which ended Steve Staunton’s reign as Ireland manager.
“After the 5-2 win in Cyprus, when we went to Ireland for the second game, I had given some interviews to Irish journalists who told me they were expecting Ireland to do something to erase the defeat in Nicosia,” said the 32-year-old striker. “But we showed again we could play good football.
“Ireland want to come here to win and if they have memories they want to erase, that’s their business. We have our own targets.”
Midfielder Constantinos Charalambides, who last week helped APOEL Nicosia to reach the group stages of the Champions’ League, hopes Cyprus will put last month’s 6-1 drubbing in Albania behind them tomorrow night.
“We have shown that as a national team, and after every bad defeat, we have the capability to bounce back. I don’t think things can get as bad as our defeat in Albania. But we shouldn’t talk big. We need to be focused and I feel we will be very much improved since the last match.
“I don’t think it’s fair to say that Ireland has more incentive in this game than us,” Charalambides continued. “Let’s not forget that we are playing at home and this is a very different game for us when compared to the one in Albania and I believe that we will play well.
“We haven’t given up hope of qualifying because as long as we have a chance and we are still alive in the group then why not?”
Three years ago, Cyprus lost 6-1 to Slovakia before winning their next match 5-2 in Nicosia – against the Republic of Ireland.
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